Among Patriots backs, Shane Vereen in front

FOXBORO 
As a rookie, Shane Vereen didn’t see the field in last year’s playoffs.

In Sunday’s AFC divisional-round game against the Texans, the running back was a focal point of the Patriots offense.

Vereen tied a Patriots postseason record by scoring three touchdowns — one rushing, two receiving — and helped lead the Patriots to a 41-28 win and a return engagement in the AFC Championship.

Vereen carried seven times for 41 yards and caught five passes for 83 yards, including a 33-yard TD pass from quarterback Tom Brady early in the fourth quarter.

“Shane had a great game,” Brady said. “It was a huge growing-up moment for him, so very special.”

Second-year back Stevan Ridley carried 15 times for 82 yards and also scored. The pair had a very healthy 5.5-yard average.

“We feed off each other,” Vereen said. “We give each other some energy when we’re doing well and even when we’re not doing well.”

The news wasn’t all good for the running back group.

The Patriots lost Danny Woodhead to a left thumb injury on their first offensive play of the game. Woodhead was crushed by J.J. Watt and Glover Quin on a running play up the middle. Woodhead was escorted to the locker room by members of the Patriots medical staff.

He returned to the sideline wearing a wrap on his thumb, but didn’t get back on the field.

“We hate to lose Woody,” Vereen said. “He’s such a key part of our offense, but at the same time we all hold ourselves accountable when somebody does go down.”

Ridley, who led the Patriots with this season 1,263 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, entered the game on the third offensive series and ran for 14 yards on his first touch. Brady connected with Vereen, who slipped past cornerback Kareem Jackson and spun around safety Danieal Manning, on a 25-yard pass play, and two plays later Vereen scored from 1 yard out.

“A lot of credit goes to Tom for finding him, but also to Shane for running good routes, catching the ball in tight coverage, running after the catch, all those things,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Obviously it was something we worked on during the week. When Tom saw matchups he liked out there, he was able to take advantage of it.”

During the regular season, Vereen carried 62 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns and caught eight passes for 149 yards and a score.

His performance Sunday came as no surprise to tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

“You practice certain things,” Vollmer said, “so you know the qualities of the runners you have. Once again, I’m happy for him and I think he produced and we see that at practice.”